Nkaissery appoints 11 officials to head security agency

The Interior ministry has appointed officials from the private sector to head the Private Security Regulatory Authority Board.

This therefore indicates that the role of the sector in supplementing the government in security management is now more pronounced.

Cabinet Secretary Joseph Nkaissery on Friday said the 11 officials' tenure at the inaugural Board will last three years.

The representatives from the Private Security Industry Association are Erick Okeyo and Moses Kamau.

Mr Isaac Andabwa and Joash Soita will represent the National Private Security Workers Union.

Mr Bernard Muriuki will represent the Residents’ associations while Mr Sivenus Sewe represents the Kenya Private Sector Alliance.

Others are Principal secretaries for Interior, National Treasury and Labour ministries by virtue of their positions in government.

They are however free to appoint proxies.

Other government agencies to be represented in the board are National Intelligence Service and National Police Service by Mr Javanson Arithi and Ms Rosemary Kuraru respectively.

The authority will manage the estimated 2,500 private security firms and security providers, requiring any unlicensed agency to register with the Authority.

The formation of the Board guided by the new Private Security Regulation Act No. 13 of 2016.

"Whenever called upon by a national security organ, the Inspector General of the National Police Service or the Cabinet Secretary, a private security service provider shall cooperate in the maintenance of law and order or in any other manner as may be provided for in the instrument of request," the law says.

The Act also points out that the Board will provide for a framework for cooperation between the private security companies and the national security organs.

It is required to set standards that will improve the level of security in the country.